Electric switch



July 5, 1932. EKARRER 1,865,697

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 16, 1929 mvsmon 271 009 Ira/PR5??- ATTORNEYS Patented July ,5, 1932 ENOCH KABBER, F AKRON, OHIO ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed 1101118, 1829. Serial 1T0. 388,488.

This invention relates to electric switches, .and particularly to multiple switches which control a plurality of circuits.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved switch of this type in which a single operating device is used to control all circuits, said device having a constant neutral position in which it lies at all times except when moved therefrom to open or close one of the branch circuits, and which device is mounted to have movements of diflerent kinds for different purposes, as will more fully appear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of this kind in which the operating device is arranged so that it may be used selectively to close and leave closed any one or more of a plurality of branch circuits, such devices being also usable to 20 open said circuits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple switch with au o crating or controlling device for individually closing any one or more of a plurality of circuits and in any desired order, and which may also be utilized to simultaneously open all of the circuits which have been closed.

In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the lire 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 2 and illustrating a modification.

The switch forming the subject matter of the present invention may be made in various forms and styles. The arrangement shown for purposes of illustration in the drawing comprises a suitable enclosing casing including a base 1 designed for attachment to a suitablesupport and which, if made of conducting material, forms one common lead for all of the branch circuits, for which purpose it is provided with a suitable binding post 2 for the current lead Uponthe base 1 is a shell or jacket 4 having its top provided with an extension 5, the top and extension being provided with radial slots 6, one for each of the branch circuit switch devices to be operated.

Each branch circuit includes its own switch device, and as they are all alike, description of one will sufiice for all. The switching devices may be of any suitable construction, such as single pole double'throw u when it is intended to have each switching device control two circuts, but, as illustrated for convenience, the switching devicesare of the single pole single throw variety. They are shown as normally open but obviously 00 might be of the normally closed variety. Each branch circuit includes a contact 7, shown as a pair of spring blades, mounted upon a bindlng post 8-to which one of the branch wires 9, 10, etc., is connected. Cooperating with the blades 7 is a switch blade 11 pivoted at 12 upon a U-shaped post 13 mounted on the base 1. Each switch blade includes three arms, the arm 11a bein adapted to move into conducting position etween 7 the blades 7, an arm 11?) which works in a slot in the post 13, and an operating arm .110. Within the post 13 is a small wire spring 14 fixed at its lower end and havmg 1ts upper end free and engaging in the angle of the switch blade between its arms 11a and lib. This spring has a preponderat ing tendency to move the switch blade to open position, as shown at the right in Fig. 2, and: when the switch is closed, as at the left in 30 Fig. 2, the spring is slightly beyond dead center with a slight switch closing effect. The four operating arms 110 are all arranged to move in radial paths just beneath the slots 6.

The present switch mechanism is provided with a single operating device capable of manipulation by the operator and mounted to have a variety of motions, even as many as three different kinds of motions, for opcrating the several switch devicesin different ways. Said operating device is usually arranged to have a plurality of motions of one kind for-operating the switches in one direction and a single motion of another kind to operate the switches in the other direction. For example, the operating device may be in the form of a rod which may be tilted in various directions with difi'erent motions of the same kind to individually operate the direction, either simultaneousl or m any predetermined or de ned order, as

switches in one direction and ma then have either or both of longitudinal and rotary motion for operating the switches in the other as agroup vided with lateral projections 11d which lie adjacent to the operating device or'rod 15 which in normal position lies vertically along the central axis of the casing. Said rod may be'made of or cased with insulating material and is provided at its upper end, outside of the shell 4, with an operating finger knob 16. At its lowerend it is suitably attached to the upper end of a short coiled springl 17 the lower end of which is beaded or ot erwise secured to a-stem 18 sliding in a sleeve 19 attached to the base 1, the stem 18 being normally held in its upper position by a compression spring 20.

The foregoing arrangement enables the knob 16 to be operated, in the form shown,

by five movements. It can be swung or tilted radiallyoutwardly through any one of the four slots 6, tothe position shown at the left in dotted lines, Fig. 2. Such motion of the rod 15 moves outwardly the corresponding switch blade 11, by the engagement of rod 16 with its lateral shoulder 11d, and closes the particular branch switch. By such operations any one or more oi the four branch circuits may be operated at will. They also may be operated in any order, and if this operation is a closing operation, as shown, then when closed the W111 remain closed until purposely opene Upon release of the operating knob 16 it immediately moves back to its central axial neutral position, in which it lies at at all times, so that the operator can depend upon its locationeven in the dark, and knows that it is actually ready for movement in any direction to operate a switch.

Depression of the knob 16 and'consequent motion of the rod 5 and its attachedparts longitudinally of the rod axis is also utilized for switch operating purposes,-for opening in the form shown,-to which end the stem 18 is provided with a collar 21 lying over the tail arms 11b of the switch levers. When any switch has been closed, as at the left in Fig. 2, its arm 11?) lies beneath the collar 21. Consequently if the button 16 is depressed, the collar 21 moves down with it and engages the arms 11?) of all switch levers which have been closed and opens said switches, which thereu on fly to the fully open position under the uence of the springs 14.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the

its original position.

several switch levers are identical and the collar 21 is of annular washer form. Consequently it simultaneously engages and operates the tail arms of all of the switch devices which have previously been closed. However, simultaneous operation is not essential and in the form shown in Fig. 4 it will be understood that the several tail arms 11b of the switches are substantially alike or even identical, but the collar 21 is of optional form with rojections or In s 21a, 21b and 210 of difi erent height, an these in are the parts which directly enga e the tai arms 11?). As a result, operation of t e switch operatin device in Fig. 4 by longitudinal or axia motion to depress the collar 21 does not simultaneously open the several switches, but opens them in any desired pre-determined' or definite order, according to the form and arrangement of the lugs.

. In this switch, therefore, the closed casing presents to view merely an operatin rod and button at its top. Motion of said button in any of the several radial directions closes the appro riate branch circuit and the button imme iately flies back to central position, in which it ma be depressed to o n all circuits which have en closed. This evice is therefore suitable for many uses, such as in automobile lighting control systems, and in places 7 where the switch mechanism may be located in the dark, etc. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. Switch mechanism of the class described, comprising a plurality of switch structures embodying switch parts movable into or out of contacting relation with each dividually move any one of said switch structures into 0 rative position, without affecting the position of an of the other switch structures and being shdably movable to simultaneously render all of said switch structures inoperative after they have been placed in operative position, and yieldable means for returning said operating means to 2. Switch mechanism of the class described, comprising a support, a plurality of switch structures mounted thereon, and a single operating means mounted for selective movement in a plurality of directions to individually actuate any one of said switch structures, said single operating means being likewise mounted for movement in one dines tion uniformiy to all of said switch structures tr; simultaneously actuate a' plurality there 0 3. Switch mechanism of the class described, comprising a support, a plurality of switch structures mounted thereon, a single III operating means mounted for selectivfi'tiltin movement in a plurality of directions to individually actuate any one 'of said switch structures, said sin le likewise mounted or :lperating means being iding movement in a 'direction uniform to all of said switch structures to simultaneously operate a plurality thereof.

4. Switch mechanism of the class described, comprising a support, a plurality of switch structures mounted thereon, a sin 10 operating means mounted for selective tilting movement in a plurality of directions to individually actuate any one of said switch structures, said single operating means being likewise mounted for slidin movement in a direction uniform to all 0 said switch structures tov simultaneously operate a pluralty thereof, and yieldable means for resisting movement of said single operating means and returnin said single operating means to its norm unoperated position after operation thereof. Y a

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ENOCH RAB-BER; 

